Ajax: the oldest preserved locomotive in mainland Europe

Ajax

«Ajax» is the oldest preserved steam locomotive in mainland Europe. It was built in Warrington (England) in 1841 for the inauguration of Austria’s first steam railway, the so-called Kaiser Ferdinands-Nordbahn, in 1837. Its type of construction is typically English. The most important components, like the cylinders, the connecting rods and the valve gear, are situated between the wheels, and its engine is coal-fired.

Originally it was built to transport goods, but due to the fact that it had big wheels and was therefore able to move at a great speed, it was soon also used for passenger services. In 1874, it was shut down, but it was not scrapped. From 1897 onwards, «Ajax» had been stored in the Austrian Railway Museum.

In 1908, it was restored and shortly afterwards transferred to the Technisches Museum in Vienna, where it had been on display until it was shut down in 1992. In 2007 it was thoroughly cleaned and restored.